What Steps to take Before Returning to Work

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• Take as much time as you can for maternity leave.  Talk to you boss about your options.

• Breastfeed often to build up a good milk supply.

• Begin pumping and storing your milk about two weeks before your start date.  If you are going back to work full-time, two weeks of pumping one time a day should give you plenty of milk stored in the freezer.

• Talk to your boss and work out a schedule so you can pump or nurse your baby during breaks at work.  It is best to find a place and talk about your pumping needs before you have your baby.

• Have at least one practice run where you leave your baby with a caregiver who will feed your baby a bottle of breastmilk.  Your baby may not easily take the bottle if you are in the same room.

• Ask your employer if you can start back to work part-time at first, or have a more flexible schedule.  If your employer is open to it, ask if you can bring your baby to work.  

• Start back to work in the middle of your work week.  Having a short first week will help you and your baby adjust.  

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What Questions to Ask Your Employer

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• Is there a private space to pump?

  • Use an Office - if the door doesn't lock, hang a sign outside the door when you are pumping.​

• Use a Cubicle

  • Use a shower curtain rod or wooden dowel to hang a large curtain outside the cubicle when you need to pump.​

• Make a space

  • Room dividers, partitions, or even a pop-up tent can be used to make a quick pump room.​

• Where can I store my milk

  • It is safe to store breastmilk in a shared staff refrigerator.​

  • If you will be using a shared refrigerator, store your milk containers in a brown paper bag or lunch box with your name on it.

  • An insulated bag with ice packs can be used to store freshly expressed milk for up to 24 hours. 

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